Chuck Wepner

Former heavyweight boxing contender Chuck Wepner was arrested Friday and charged with several drug offenses, the result of an eight-month investigation, Middlesex County Prosecutor Alan Rockoff said. Wepner, 46, who was described as a "mid-level" drug dealer, was found with four ounces of cocaine in his car when he was arrested in Sayreville. Rockoff said the drugs had a street value of about $12,000.

"Rocky VI" opened Wednesday in a New Jersey courtroom, pitting the reel Rocky Balboa, Sylvester Stallone, against the real Rocky, Chuck Wepner, in a legal battle. Wepner, whose performance in a 1975 title match against Muhammad Ali was the inspiration for the "Rocky" movie character, is suing Stallone in state Superior Court for $15 million, claiming the actor has reneged on promises to reward Wepner for his pivotal role. After 28 years of waiting, the 65-year-old Wepner said, he has had enough.

"Rocky VI" opened Wednesday in a New Jersey courtroom, pitting the reel Rocky Balboa, Sylvester Stallone, against the real Rocky, Chuck Wepner, in a legal battle. Wepner, whose performance in a 1975 title match against Muhammad Ali was the inspiration for the "Rocky" movie character, is suing Stallone in state Superior Court for $15 million, claiming the actor has reneged on promises to reward Wepner for his pivotal role. After 28 years of waiting, the 65-year-old Wepner said, he has had enough.

When it happened, more than 19 years ago, it was a shock. And, in a way, it's still a shock. Sonny Liston dead? How could it be? He was a mountain, a guy who had muscles in his ears. He had a left hook that could take down buildings. Before his two questionable performances against Cassius Clay-Muhammad Ali, he was generally perceived as indestructible.

Al Braverman, a longtime boxing manager and promoter who spent the last 22 years of his life working for Don King, died over the weekend from complications of diabetes. He was 78. Braverman, unbeaten as a heavyweight from 1938-41, was a Runyonesque character of the kind that thrived during the 1940s and '50s, particularly in New York. A cornerman and trainer, he went to work for King in 1975 as director of boxing, negotiating contracts for King-promoted fights.

Former heavyweight boxing contender Chuck Wepner was arrested Friday and charged with several drug offenses, the result of an eight-month investigation, Middlesex County Prosecutor Alan Rockoff said. Wepner, 46, who was described as a "mid-level" drug dealer, was found with four ounces of cocaine in his car when he was arrested in Sayreville. Rockoff said the drugs had a street value of about $12,000.

To commemorate Muhammad Ali's 65th birthday, which is Wednesday, ESPN Classic will devote 52 hours of programming to the boxer beginning today and concluding next Saturday. "No one represents what ESPN Classic is all about more than Muhammad Ali," said John Papa, the network's vice president in charge of programming. "We opened up our vaults to do this." The Ali celebration, which kicks off today at 5 p.m.

SERIES The Real Rocky: This documentary from Jeff Feuerzeig looks at the career of Chuck Wepner, the "Bayonne Bleeder," a former New Jersey state heavyweight boxing champion who fought George Foreman, Sonny Liston and Muhammad Ali. He says that he was the inspiration for the "Rocky" character (5 p.m. ESPN). NCIS: Gibbs (Mark Harmon) meets Ducky's (David McCallum) new girlfriend (Cheryl Ladd) in this new episode (8 p.m. CBS). Frontline: The new episode "Death by Fire" raises troubling questions in the case of a Texan who was executed in 2004 for the arson deaths of his three children, but new evidence raises doubts about whether he was guilty (9 p.m. KOCE)